By Carolyn Reid
What started as an information session regarding the possible merger between Kentucky State Police and Pendleton County Dispatch took an unexpected turn during the caucus of the Pendleton County Fiscal Court Tuesday, September 5, as Judge/Executive David Fields shared what he thought were positive responses about questions to KSP dispatch, but was really a list of things KSP does not do at this time.
Fields began the discussion by explaining he had learned at a conference about other areas merging their dispatch services with their local KSP post, and he sent information to KSP to find out if the county and Post 6 could talk. KSP responded with what they could do for the county, and that opened discussions between the two entities. He emphasized the decision they are facing is “tough,” and he began the discussion by reviewing the budget.
He explained the budget for 911 through KSP versus the budget through the county for the service. The 2023 budget for dispatch was $648,775 with CMRS (cell phone monies) covering $189,423.83 and the 911 tax covering $62,705.80. The actual expenditures for that period were $613, 368.55; meanwhile, the same service, he and the court maintained, could have been $240,553.42, using the CMRS and 911 tax funds, if the plan had been used in 2023.
These proposed savings has led to the discussion of a merger with the Post 6 KSP dispatch center. Fields also explained that he had spoken with Grant County’s judge/executive, and he had said their costs were a fraction of what they could have been had they still held their own 911 center.
Magistrate Darrin Gregg, District 3, had questions about the possible merger and its local effects. He asked if the buses would still be able to reach 911, and if the cameras in the athletic park would still be monitored. He also asked what the situation in the county would be in five years given this takes place. All questions were met with affirmatives or were slated to be asked in future discussions. He continued by asking if the City of Falmouth paid into the 911 system, and he was told the only thing the city was responsible for that was handled by 911 was the police department. He asked who would be the person to build into the CAD (computer-aided dispatch) and be responsible for overseeing its accuracy, and Fields responded Emergency Management Director Mike Moore and he would be responsible for that. He asked about the mapping, and Moore stated KSP had different CAD maps, but the data would transfer.
Gregg went on to ask about other counties such as Bracken and Harrison needing a type of merger, and Fields responded he has tried to get some consolidation with them for several years.
Magistrate Josh Plummer, District 2, asked if the CAD folder goes with KSP and would a dispatcher there oversee and make sure the info is accurate and maintained as our dispatch center oversees it now.
Gregg expressed another concern he had. “It bothers me that we will be letting the state spend our county dollars—how to spend it and how much we spend. I have a hard time with Uncle Sam telling our county how to spend our dollars.”
Magistrate Rick Mineer, District 4, replied subcontracting with KSP would be similar to the county subcontracting with Falmouth Fire Department. He continued he had a hard time looking at the information and not looking at their fiscal responsibility.
“That is what we were elected to do. It’s hard to look at numbers and get the same service without adding any taxes.”
Plummer again calculated the cost of the department and how much it cost the general fund. He then asked how much it would be to purchase new equipment, something they know will happen. After he threw out some numbers, Moore replied it could take over a million dollars to replace the radios, repeaters, and other equipment, but he was not sure of the numbers.
Gregg asked what they would do with the savings from dispatch, and Plummer responded they are facing operating a county fire department. Plummer continued that the tax base in his area is being strangled, and he did not know how to ask them for more revenue. When Gregg asked if it would be wise to bring in department heads to get their input on moving dispatch, and that was established later when the meeting with the KSP representative happens on September 19.
Plummer asked if the county had positions for those who would not be in dispatch if this move takes place, and Fields responded they had nothing at this time.
Fields and Magistrate Alan Whaley, District 1, proceeded to read questions and responses they understood to be from KSP; however, once that period was over, Angie Wright, Head of Dispatch, told the court the list they read was the list of things KSP does not do at this time. She stated PC Dispatch has waiting since 2015 for things to be added to their CAD, and KSP does not do that. The company providing CAD does that, implying the additions to the KSP CAD to accommodate the merger of PC dispatch could take much longer than desired.
Moore said the supervisor of dispatch at KSP and the other representative at KSP could clarify those questions when they come September 19. Fields agreed, saying that would also be a time for the public to be at the caucus to hear information from those people.
Wright said fire, EMS, and police are not in the KSP system and would have to be built on to active 911. She continued that she and the KSP supervisor have worked together over 10 years, and they want to get it right.
Gregg asked if the county lets go of the system, would it be gone forever? That question did not receive a clear answer except Fields said the contract would be a two-year contract. Plummer asked who would pay for the CADs to be brought into the system, and Whaley said that would be included in the contract.
An unidentified dispatcher spoke to the court, saying she loves the job and loves the people. She says dispatchers come to know the residents’ phone numbers, those who have to call frequently, so they know who is on the line and how to handle the situations.
Neil Belcher, Publisher of the Falmouth Outlook whose wife is a dispatcher, backed up the dispatcher’s words with an observation about the court’s discussions. “In all this talk, I heard no human touch. ‘The CAD can do this.’ The whole point of 911 is to get a live body who cares. I didn’t hear any human response. I know it’s a fiscal court and I know ‘fiscal’ is in there, but I know there are some services and responsibilities, and you guys have to go beyond the last dollar. Public safety is one of them. I understand you see you get the best deal, but I don’t know how you put a price on that.”
Fields responded they would not make any moves that cost lives, but the conversation is needed. He said the responsibility they have is not taken lightly, and they are trying to get as much information as they can.
Whaley told Belcher he was not being fair to those dispatchers and was making them less human than ours, and Belcher replied he was not talking about dispatchers; he was talking about the people. He felt the questions needed to be people-related, but the CAD was being discussed more.
Plummer said he understood the human touch seemed to be missing from the conversation, and Mineer insisted none of them planned to put citizens in jeopardy. “Seventy percent of the people don’t know where they are calling when they call 911,” he stated. “We can have viable service in or out of the county.”
Plummer returned to the PC Dispatch worry, a shortage of staff. “What do we do to keep people from being a stepping stone? How to tackle the issue? KSP may be the way.” He then asked about the newcomers’ knowledge of the county, and the unidentified dispatcher stated not everyone could do the job. Some leave for money, but several have gone because they realize they are not cut out for the responsibility of dispatch. After another audience member advocated for keeping dispatch, Plummer questioned if they needed to add a tax to offset fire and how many all of this impacts compared to the big decision of saving money.
After a short discussion of the lack of tax base other counties have, Mineer stated, “Dispatch costs every man, woman, and child $43 per year.”
Dispatch will be discussed in the next caucus Tuesday, September 19, at 6 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.